Why I Write – Love Not Money

Yesterday was an amazing day. I published an article on Inquisitr telling the story of Harvey Hext, a little boy who was taken at just nine-years-old by childhood cancer neuroblastoma.

Harvey’s mom Sarah was kind enough to give me an interview outlining how One Direction star Louis Tomlinson and his family gave the Hext family amazing support, both whilst harvey was ill and after he passed.

I was truly honored that Sarah trusted me to tell the story. Harvey’s passing was at the end of November and I am certain that Harvey’s parents, his big sister Olivia and more than anyone his twin brother Spencer must still be hurting fiercely. It was my belief that Harvey’s story needed to be told and clearly One Direction fans agreed.

Tweets about the story had over One Million impressions on twitter in a few hours and unbelievably I found myself trending all over the world. I am truly humbled by the outpouring of love for Harvey and his family and for Louis Tomlinson and his amazing family who do so much unreported work for sick kids.

One Direction fans are an investigative bunch and they have long learned never to take things at face value. I think that is to be admired. To be fair they have been fed so many lies and rumors over the years that it would be incredible if they didn’t question the motivation of every word that is written.

I published Harvey’s story on Inquisitr and of course I do get paid for my writing there. Some fans suspect that my stories there are written as ‘click bait’ and I truly understand that.

Of course the truth is very different. As most writers will agree writing isn’t something you do for money. Millions of aspiring writers will tell you all to readily that making a living from writing is something only a very few people successfully do. Writers write for love, not money. We need a voice, a creative outlet and we want to be heard. Money comes along way down the line.

I have been writing this blog for a long time before I started to write for Inquisitr. I also write for a couple of music magazines without receiving any kind of payment. You can check out my writers archives on Louder Than War and Echoes And Dust if you wish.

Don’t misunderstand me. I am thrilled to be lucky enough to get paid for writing for Inquisitr but I am not dependent on the money. As a result of taking early retirement I have a nice pension, no mortgage and I am debt free. If I never earned another penny from writing I would still be doing it.

There are stories that need to be told, music that needs to be heard and little boys like Harvey who need a voice. I hope that I will be able to tell those stories for many years to come.

Incidentally I am also a mad keen photographer, something I earn virtually nothing from. Like writing I do it for love, for a creative outlet and to share a view of my life through a lens.

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About The Sound of Summer

Hi,
I am Alan. I live in Broadstone, Dorset with my wife, Shirley, my son, Ryan and two dogs called Bailey and Jasper. I have recently retired after working in the Armed Forces and in Public Service since 1977 so I now have a bit more time to do the things I love.
Music is a huge part of my life and always has been. I have a broad taste in music and can find something to enjoy in most styles of music. I have always been attracted to music which has something to say, is outside the mainstream and is perhaps a bit rebellious.
I guess my early influences were late 1970's Punk and new wave bands, especially those who came out of Northern Ireland where I grew up. I loved Stiff Little Fingers, The Undertones, Rudi, Starjets etc but also bands like The Ramones, The Clash, The Jam and so on.
I like singer songwriters including Van Morrison, Springsteen, Neil Young & Bob Dylan and in recent years I have become more interested in folk and acoustic music but I also love the sort of high drive energetic Folk/Punk music delivered by bands like The Levellers, Leatherat, Ferocious Dog and many others who frequent the UK Festival scene.
I have long since lost the desire to spend my holidays laying around in the sun and these days am much more likely to be found in a muddy field somewhere in the UK during the festival season.

2 thoughts on “Why I Write – Love Not Money”

There are very few people who make a living doing what they truly love. Writers, musicians, dancers and athletes are just a few. For the few that make millions, there are millions who make nothing. They do what they do because their hearts and minds demand it.